Can washer



July 17, 1928. 1,677,443

O.H.HANSEN CAN WASHER Filed Sept. 22, 1922 2 s t -s et 1 INVENTOR- ATTEIRNEIN/J July 17, 1928. 1577,443

O. H. HANSEN cm WASHER 'Fi'le 'i Sept. 22. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- Patented July 17, 1928.

Unitas stares eaten-r amt-t.

OSWALD H. HANSEN, or ron'r WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 HANS N CANNING AoHI nnY CORPORATION, or PORT 'WAsHING'roN, WISCONSIN.

CAN WASHER.

Application filed September 22, 1922. Serial No. 589,888.

This invention relates in general to im I provements in the art of automatically washing receptacles in succession, and relates more specifically to improved apparatus for automatically washing and sterilizingmetallic containers prior to packing'edible substances therein. I

An object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus for automatically cleansing the interiors of successive receptacles while the same are being advanced in series along a definite course.

Some of the more important specific ob jects of the present invention are as fol-f lows a To provide a can washer which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

To provide means for. automatically delivering successive cans of a series to a can washer without injuring the cans.

To provide means'for automatically de livering successive washed cans of a series from a can washer. without injuring the cans. i

To provide simple means for automatically delivering whirling sprays of cleanser against all portions of the interiors of successive cans as they are advanced in series through the washer. v

To provide means for rotating the successive cans of a series about their own axes during washing of the cans.

sirable'precipitation of water is positively prevented.

To. provide a can Washer in which the use of undesirable stuffing boxes and other complicated mechanisms which require attention and adjustment, is avoided. i

To provide a Washing machine which is operable and controllable in conjunction with standard can filling machines and which may be conveniently disposed in any canning factory. To provide an improved drive for can I charge.

washers whereby'the machines may be readily coupledwitha line shaft.

To provide mechanism which may be readily dismantled and assembled, and which may be conveniently inspected without disturbing the can chutes leading to and from the machine.

To provide a can washer in which relatively frail cans may be eifectively cleansed without danger of injury. l

I To provide other details of improved construction in can washers, whereby the cost of manufacture and of operation is reduced to. aminimum and which will operate at maximum efliciency'.

Some of the novel features of can Washer construction which are disclosed but not specifically claimed herein, form the subjectmatter of copending application Serial Number 390,148, filed June 19, 1920.

A clear .conceptionof an embodiment of the several features of the present invention may be had by referring tothe drawings accompanying and forn'iing a part of this specification, in which like reference characters'designat'e the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is an end elevation of a can washing machine looking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of-the casing cover, the cover being removed from the machine.

F 2 is a section through thecan washer, the section being taken through the can inlet. through the initial Washing chamber and through the can and cleansing fluid dis- Fig. 3 is a section through the canwasher,

the section being taken through the'final cleansing chamber and through the can discharge rotor. I L 1 Fig. 4 is atop view of the improved drive mechanism for can washing machines.

The improved can washer comprises gen erally a-ma'in casing 2 forming a pair of substantially circular communicating chambers, a stationary tubular cleansing fluid admission header 3 projecting centrally 'into'ea'eh of the chambers, a cleansing fluid distributing spider rotatably supported by each of the headers 3, a can transporting rotor associated and rotatable With each of the spiders, a can supply "mechanism associagainst an adjustable ated with the top of the initial washing chamber, acan discharge rotor 8 associated with the final cleansing chamber, suitable mechanism for driving the various movable elements, hot water and steam supply means communicating with the initial and final l an ing chambers respectively, a hinged Cover 7 for permitting ready access to all portions of the interior of the casing 2, and supporting bars 24 for suspending the wash er from the factory structure. While the washer has been illustrated as being adapted to receive and to transport the successive cans 9'with their axes disposed substantially horizontal, it will be obvious that the machine may be otherwise disposed: without departing from the present invention.

Located above the initial Washing chambar and adjustably associated with the upper portion of the casing 25, is a' can supply chute l2-which is adapted to deliver the successive cans 9 by gravity in proximity to the vertical can feed rotor or drum 14. The supply chute 12 may be set at any convenient angle dependent upon the location of the can supply source. The can feed rotor 14 is of increasing diameter approaching the washer, and has a helical projection 15 adapted to engage the successive cans 9 and to gently deposit them in accuratelytimed relation, into the spaces between the successive advancing can hooks of the first transporting rotor 6. In order to insure proper engagement of the cans 9 with the helical projection 15, the Wall of the casing 2 directly opposite and above the inlet feed mechanism, is provided with guiding pro.- jections 43 which are directed downwardly anditoward the rotor 14. These projec tions 43 function to gently push the successive gravitating cans 9 toward the rotor 14 Without distorting the cans.

The cleansing chambers are provided with peripheral can guiding rails 44 adapted to conduct the successive cans 9 along a definite course, of substantially S shape, during cleansing of the cans.

The can transporting rotor 6 and the fluid distributing spider 5 of the initial Washing chamber, are simultaneously rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, the can books of the initial rotor 6 being adapted to receive the cans 9 in succession from the feed drum 14 and to deliver the picliminarily washed cans guide 17 which directs the successive can 9 upwardly into the final cleansing chamber, The arms of the hot water distributing spider 5 of the initial washing chamber, are hollow and have inner ends communicating through ports 4:5'and through the interior of the stationary header 3, with a water purifier 27 which receives a continuous supply of hot Waterthrough a controllable valve 30 and which is provided with a sediment drain pipe 47, see Fig. 2. The outer extremities of the arms of the Water distributing spider 5 are provided with laterally directed hot water discharge nozzles 18,the nozzles being formed to deliver the wash Water in the form of films against the side walls and into the corners of cans 9 whi.ch are being transported by the initial rotor 6. The nozzles 18 are preferably removable for cleaning from the spider arms, and may be attached to the .SPldBP'fi in any convenient manner. The water distributing spider 5 and the adjacent can transporting rotor 6, are drivingly connected by means of parallel pins 11.: The rotor 6 is freely endwise removable from the water distributing spider 5 upon removal of the cap screw and washer, and

wise direction as viewed in'Fig. 1, the can hooks of this rotor being adapted to receive the cans 9 in successionfrom the rotor 6 of the initial Washing chamber, and to deliver the finally cleansed cans against the can hooks of the final discharge rotor 8 which directs the successive cans along an adjustable discharge guide 20 and downwardly through a final discharge passage extending below the washer. distributing spider of the final cleansing chamber are hollow and have inner ends communicating through ports A5 and through the interior of the stationary header 3 with a steam; purifier 28 whichreceives a continuous supply of steam through a con-- trollable valve '30 and which is provided with a sediment drain pipe 47. The outer extremities of the armsof the steam distributing spider 50 are provided with later ally directed steam nozzles 19, the nozzles 19 being formed to deliverthe steam in the formof films against the sidewalls and'into the corner of the cans 9 which are being transported through the final cleansing chamber by the rotor 60. The nozzles 19 are preferably removable for cleaning from the spider arms, and may be attached tothe spider 50 in any convenient inanner.The steam distributingspider 50 and the adjacent can transportingrotor are drivingly connected by means of parallel pins 11. and are provided with internalbalancing chambers wherein steam under pressure is ad Initted in order to relieve the bearing pressures. The rotor 60 is freely endwise removable from the steam distributing spider 50 upon removal of the cap screw and washer, and the steam spider50 is likewise endwise removable from the steam distributing header 3.

ill)

The arms of the steam mounted upon a stationary pivot 29 and is rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig- 1. The final can discharge conduit to which the cleansed cans 9 are delivered by the rotor 8, is provided with lateral adjustable guides 21 which cooperate with the upper and lower walls of the final discharge passage to deliver the washed cans into the discharge chute 22. The discharge chute 22 is attachedto the casing 2 and may be swung to various positions ,in order to effect delivery of the cans directly to the filling machines. The cover 7 is attached to the casing 2 by means of hinges and may be locked in closed position by means of a readily releasable clamp 26. The cover 7 incloses both of the cleansing chambers and the conduits leading toward and away from these chambers, and permits free access to the entire interior of the washer without interfering with the can inlet and discharge chutes 12, 22. The lower portion of the easing 2 is provided with a drip catch 48 for conducting water toward a drain 23. The

' interior of the casing 2 is also provided with suitable passages 31 for conducting water from the washing chambers to the drain 23. The drlvlng mechanlsm for 1mpartmg mo tion to thevarious movable elements of the washer, comprises a pulley 13,-a friction clutch 39, a shaft 38 supporting the pulley 13 and clutch 39, gearing 37 connecting the shaft 38 with a vertical shaft'36 upon which the feed drum 1 Lv is mounted, bevel gears 35, 3d drivingly connecting the vertical shaft 36 with a countershaft 33, a pinion 32 attached to an end of the counter shaft 33 and meshing with a spur gear 4 secured to the hot water distributing spider 5, a similar gear 4: secured to the steam distributing spider 50 and meshing with the gear l of the hot water distributing spider, and a gear 46 secured-to the final discharge rotor 8 and meshing with the gear 4 of the steam distributing spider 50. The main drive shaft 38 is mounted in bearings in the'bracket 1O which is angularly adjustably supported upon a stationary segmental adjusting plate 16. The plate 16 is provided with a plural.-

' ity of definitely spaced holes 49 adapted to receive the locking bolts 42 in order to posi-' tively position the driving mechanism in a predetermined position. The driving coaction between the elements of the friction clutch 39 may be varied by adjusting the compression of the spring with the aidof an adjusting nut ll coacting with screw threads on the shaft 38. It will be noted that with this arrangement of elements, motion is transmitted from the main drive shaft 38 through the can supply drum 14 to the During normal operation of theimproved I washer, power is, applied to the pulley 13 The rotary motion of the directions hereinabove referred to. As the successive unwashed cans 9 gravitate toward the projections {t3 on the'casing 2, they are automatically pushed endwise by the upper inclined surfaces of these projections toward the revolving feed drum li'the helical projection 15 of which engages the adj ace'ntends of the successive cans. This projection 15 converts the gravity feeding of the cans into positive mechanical feeding and gently deposits the successive cans 9 in the notches between the successive can hooks of the initial rotor 6 in properlyspaced relation. As the cans 9' engage are transported by the hooks ofuthe initial rotor 6 with their open ends facing the noz zles 18, hot'water is delivered against the walls and into the corners ofv the slightly tilted cans thus softening the dirt." As each can 9 advances to the space between the two cleansing chambers,.its interior besides being exposed to a nozzle 18 of the spider 5 is gradually simultaneously and additionally subjected to the cleansing action of steam admitted from an advancing nozzle 19 of the final cleansing spider. The hot water jets are gradually removed from the moving cans 9 as they advance int-o the final. cleansing chamber wherein the interiors of the cans are finally and thoroughly washed and cleansed by the action of the steam jets delivered from the nozzles 19. The finally cleansed cans are eventuallydelivered in inclined position. and with their open ends lowermost, from the cleansing chambers by the rotating discharge rotor 8 which besides gently delivering the successive washed cans 9 along a the discharge guide 20'into the final discharge and drainage passage, tends to straighten distorted cans. 7 along the guide 21 and through the final discharge passage are thoroughly drained before delivery to the discharge chute 22 by,

virtue of their inclination with their open ends lowermost, the water of'condensation and wash water flowing away through the drain 23. w

The successive cans 9 are first subjected to the washing and softening action of hot water alone in theinitial washing chamber,

are urged along the guide 17, and finally The tilted cans 9 passing :and a then to the combined washing action of both hot water and "steanras theyapproach and to the cleansing action or. relatively dry steam alone in the final cleansing chamber. The cans 9 are" thus automatically and thoroughly cleaned and like treatment of eachcan 9 is insured. The can feed mechanism insures proper delivery of the cans 9 to the machine Without danger of damaging the relatively frail receptacles. If a can 9- should become jammed in the positive feed afi'orded by the drum 14, or between any other moving elementsofthe machine, the clutch 39 will slip and will thus avoid damage. The discharge rotor 8 likewise insures proper delivery of the cleansed cans 9 from the machine without danger of injury, and the guides 17, 20 may be readily adjusted to produce perfect iding of the advanced cans. The various rain passages and drip-catches conduct all Water from the machine without permitting undesirable precipitation of water into the factory.- The large cover 7 permits ready and free access to all parts of the interior of the washer, and the variouselements are conveniently adjustable and removable to produce most efficient and sanitary conditions-of operation. The arrangement of the drive, the balancing of the rotary elements and the disposition of the cans 9 relatively to the cleansing fluid jets, reduces the power consumption to a minimum, and the friction clutch 39 serves as a safety device for preventing breakage of parts in case an abnormal object enters the machine. The adj ustable can inlet and discharge chutes 12, 22 and the angularly adjustable drive mechanism facilitate convenient location of the washer in any factory, and the control valves 30 may bemanipulated either" manually or automatically from anyconvenient location. The entire structure is simple, compact, automatic in operation and: foolproof and has been found to produce excellent results in commercial operation.

It should be understood that itis not desired to'limit the invention to the exact details of construction and of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of theclaims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a can washer, a cleansing chamber, can cleansing means within said chamber, a can transporting rotor within said chamber having a series of can hooks for transporting cans in proximity to said cleansing means, and a can discharge rotor adjacent to said transportingrotor, said discharge rotor having can hooks cooperable with said transporting rotor hooks to form substantially cylindrical successive can receiving pockets.

2. In a can washer, a cleansing chamber, cancleansing means within said chamber, a

final can discharge rotor, a train of gearing for communicating rotary motion from said feed to said rotors and from said second rotor to said discharge rotor, and means forv cleansing cans within said chambers.

4., In a can washer, a can feed drum ro-. tatable about a substantially vertical axis, a chamber having can cleansing means therein, a can transporting rotor within, said chamber rotatable about an axis extending at an oblique angle relatively to said drum axis, a second can transporting rotor Within said chamber rotatable about an axis sub stantially parallel to the axis of said first mentioned transporting rotor, and a can discharge rotor cooperable 1 With said second transporting rotor and rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said transporting rotor.

5. In a can washer, meansforming a pair of contiguous chambers having parallel central axes, rotary means for positively delivering cans to one of said chambers above the axis thereof, means for advancing the cans through said chamber and around the said axis in one direction, means for subsequently advancing the cans througlrthe other of said chambers and around the axis thereof in the opposite direction,.mans for cleansing the cans while being advanced through said chambers. and a rotor revoluble about an axis for positively discharging the cans from said other chamber below. the axis thereof. I

6. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous chambers having central axes located at 'flerent elevations, rotary means for positively delivering cans to. the chamber having the lower axis at a point above said axis, means for advancing" the: cans through said chamber and around said lower axis in one direction, means for subsequently advancing the cans throiuih the other of said chambers and around the upper of said axes in the opposite direction, means for cleansing the cans while being advanced through said chambers, and rotary means for positively discharging the cans from said other chamber below said upper axis.

7. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous annular chambers, rotary means for positively delivering cans; doW1iwardly into one of said chambers,;means for advancing the cans orbitally through said chamber in one direction and for discharging the cans upwardly into the other of said chambers, means for subsequently advancing the cans orbitally through said other chamber in the opposite direction, means for cleansing the cans While being advanced throughesaid chambers, and a rotor for p0sitively discharging the cans downwardly from said other chamber.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is alfixed hereto.

OSWALD H. imusnur 

